Changing Cell Date Formats to Text Format and Retain mm/dd/yy

Select the cells containing dates you wish to convert to formatted text and run this tiny macro:

Sub TextDate()
    Dim r As Range, st As String
    For Each r In Selection
        If r.Value <> "" Then
            r.NumberFormat = "mm/dd/yyyy"
            st = r.Text
            r.Clear
            r.NumberFormat = "@"
            r.Value = st
        End If
    Next r
End Sub

Macros are very easy to install and use:

1. ALT-F11 brings up the VBE window
2. ALT-I ALT-M opens a fresh module
3. paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the macro will be saved with it. If you are using a version of Excel later then 2003, you must save the file as .xlsm rather than .xlsx

To remove the macro:

1. bring up the VBE window as above
2. clear the code out
3. close the VBE window

To use the macro from Excel:

1. ALT-F8
2. Select the macro
3. Touch RUN

To learn more about macros in general, see:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735(v=office.14).aspx

Macros must be enabled for this to work!